Roses & Ruin

Chapter 30 (Lexi)

"Long time," he said.

I've been away modeling and moved to New York when I could. I barely spoke with them during that time. They really only call to check in to see if I'm behaving.

Instead of addressing me, they looked past me and addressed Boris who was respectfully behind me with his head bowed. "Anything to report? Has she behaved?" My father asked Boris.

"Yes gospodin, nothing to report gospodin" was his immediate response. Gospodin is like the proper way to address an honorific man in Russian. Like 'sir' respectfully.

"Dismissed" my father gave a slight wave of his hand to Boris. My bodyguard promptly bowed his head again and left the room. Now it was just me and them.

        Vitaly waved me to have a seat next to my brother. When I sat Andrei annoyingly fussed with my hair like I was a kid. "Did Boris mention my offer to live here, in our American based home?" Vitaly asked me. I tried not to snort a laugh. I don't wanna end up on the wrong foot with them so soon. Though it's bound to happen.

All three men were in relaxed versions of their suits and they mostly stay that way. Andrei sometimes is in normal wear, which for him means a tight black tee showing off his tattooed muscles and jeans. I call him heavy footed because his boots always clunked down the hall when I was still living with them back in Russia.

        "Otets, I don't want to give up my lease for the apartment I'm in. I won't find that rate again once you're gone" I told him. Mostly in Russian as they barely speak english unless necessary. Otets means father, but in the formal and non affectionate way. I know it annoys him when I address him that way, but that's what he gets from me.

I usually call him Vitaly behind his back and he'd be furious to know it.

"If all goes well with our negotiations we'll have a permanent home here for when we fly back and forth for business. And besides...you won't need an apartment if they accept our offer" my father hinted to something.

I cringed at its meaning. He wants to marry me off. Like some fucking ancient peace treaty where women are property. It infuriates me.

        The thing is, they'd probably kill me if I stood against them and refused. Like I've mentioned plenty, I don't have a choice. My freedom was lost the moment they touched down on American soil.

I grit my teeth and tried to control this fire licking up inside me. My anger, my nerves, my stress. I grieve my mother most when I'm near these people.

They want me to give up my apartment. My only space away from them. I can't live with these people, but how do I say that without starting a huge fight? Guess I'll have to try it out and see. Like skipping through a damn land mine field.

        "I don't want to live here" I stated plainly. Andrei smirked wickedly from beside me, Dmitriy stood beside my seated father like his shadow, glaring, watching. My father slammed his fist on the armrest of that plush maroon chair beneath him. He carries proud shoulders even while sitting down.

From what little I've seen of this place so far it's giving me a modern day aristocrat vibe. In this sitting room is some well crafted furniture all in rich colors with the other decorum, an heirloom chandelier, and generously applied fabrics.

The walls feel too busy with stuffy frames of various not very interesting paintings. Terracotta lamps in corners on side tables to give the room odd dim spaces of light to create shadows against surfaces.

        "You'd rather live in a dump than live in luxury with your family!" Vitaly raised his voice, but hadn't totally lost it yet. I looked between my brothers and him, deciding what to say.

"Otets, I want a space of my own. Give me at least that much freedom" I decided to sort of ask-sort of tell him. His face darkened in a terrifying way. He tightened his already closed fist.

"Giving a girl freedom is basically giving her room to make mistakes with the men who prey on that freedom" he said the word 'freedom' with an exaggerated tone. He basically just said, "You'll whore around and ruin my plan to marry you off as a white lily virgin."

I mean seriously?! I usually time how long it takes for me to start a fight. This time was all of five minutes. Bravo Lexi.

        "Are you kidding me? I'm not an idiot. I think I can handle myself just fine" I spat. Andrei's smirk only grew, Dmitriy's frown deepened, my father's fist slammed again, but it was joined by him leaping to his feet.

It made me flinch when he rushed forward. He yanked me up on my feet and glared down at me like a frightening tower of a man. They all have height to them. Even for someone like me with model height.

"Yeah, your mother thought she could handle herself too. And all she did was bring me shame! You do as I fucking say!" He shouted at me.

I shrunk down an inch or two, but I was starting to tremble from rage not fear.

        "Don't talk about her," I warned him. It was evident in my tone that that was a warning. He laughed. The bastard chuckled sardonically at me and shook his head like I was a fool.

"You're gonna learn, Aleksandra, that you hold little power in this world" he mocked me. I felt myself flush with the mixture of very intense emotions all coming to the surface at once. I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

I just stayed pinned into place between three sets of cold blue glares looking back at me.

------------------------------------------------------------

Author's Note: What do you think of the Petrov men so far?

ALSO: I post every Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 3pm (est) for those of you who were asking.